Project Hub

Solar Panel Permits by City

Whether solar installation needs a permit depends on your city. Here is the official answer for each city we cover, ranked by how many solar panel permits the city issued in the last 12 months.

An installer fixing a black solar panel to a shingled roof
CityPermit needed?Permits (12 mo)
New York Solar Panel PermitsYes
No solar work can be done in New York City without a DOB work permit, a licensed contractor and a Registered Design Professional.		5,493
Chicago Solar Panel PermitsYes
New small rooftop solar systems up to 13.44 kW inverter output can use Chicago's Express Permit Program, with drawings and calculations from an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.		1,615
Austin Solar Panel PermitsYes
Solar panels or solar shingles inside Austin city limits that interconnect to Austin Energy need a residential building permit.		660
San Francisco Solar Panel PermitsElectrical permit
A small residential rooftop solar system on a building that isn't a designated landmark is exempt from a building permit in San Francisco, but an electrical or other permit may still be required.		423
Pittsburgh Solar Panel PermitsYes
Roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar arrays need a residential electrical permit from PLI, plus a Zoning Development Review.		300
New Orleans Solar Panel PermitsYes
Rooftop solar in New Orleans is permitted as an electrical permit, which only a contractor with a Class A City of New Orleans electrical license can obtain.		244
Orlando Solar Panel PermitsYes
Orlando reviews residential solar with a Solar Plan Review Checklist, and the electrical work is permitted as 'New Solar' on the Electrical Permit Application..		176
Raleigh Solar Panel PermitsYes
Solar adds electrical wiring and equipment, which North Carolina excludes from the $40,000 permit exemption, so a rooftop solar system in Raleigh needs a permit..		11

Go Deeper

For the patterns behind these rules, read Solar Panel Permit Rules for Homeowners.

Written and maintained by the Home Permit Guide Editorial TeamPlaceholder profile

Reviewed by: named reviewer to be added · Last updated

This is a placeholder editorial profile. A named reviewer with verifiable experience will be added here. Until then, every rule on this page links to the official government source it was checked against. Read our editorial policy.

Sources

Official sources checked on . Rules change; confirm with the department before you start work.

  1. NYC DOB: Project Requirements for Owner – Solar System (nyc.gov)
  2. Chicago DOB Express Permit Program: Small-Scale Solar PV System (chicago.gov)
  3. Austin DSD: Types of Permits (austintexas.gov)
  4. SF.gov: Check if your construction project needs a permit (sf.gov)
  5. SF.gov: Where to apply for your permit (sf.gov)
  6. Pittsburgh PLI: Residential Electrical Permit (pittsburghpa.gov)
  7. Pittsburgh PLI Bulletin: Standard Permit Application Requirements (pittsburghpa.gov)
  8. City of New Orleans: Solar Permitting (nola.gov)
  9. City of Orlando: Permitting Checklists (orlando.gov)
  10. City of Orlando: Electrical Permit Application (orlando.gov)
  11. N.C. General Statute 160D-1110 (ncleg.gov)
  12. Raleigh: Residential Permits (raleighnc.gov)